Structure
The SANG has been restructured with the help of the Vinnell Corporation into a light mechanized force equipped with over a thousand Cadillac Gage Commando armored fighting vehicles (now being replaced with LAV‑25s). Its mobile force consists of three mechanized brigades and five motorized infantry brigades. The militia portion consists of around 24 battalions of fowj, tribal warriors on "retainer".
The Eight Brigades are:
- Imam Muhammad bin Saud Mechanized Brigade (IMBS)
- Prince Saad Abdulrahman Mechanized Brigade (PSAR)
- Turki Mechanized Brigade was reported to be in formation in 2002
- King Khalid Light Infantry Brigade’s strength is unknown
- King Abdulaziz Mechanized Brigade, was in information in 2002 still unknown
- Prince Mohammad bin Abdulrahman al-Saud Light Infantry Brigade
- One light infantry brigade based in Jeddah
- One light infantry brigade based in Medina
- Omar bin Kattab light infantry brigade based in Taif
The two original motorized brigades, IMBS and KAAB, had M‑102 howitzers (IMBS) and 155mm M‑198 howitzers, plus TOW anti-tank guided missile systems in the anti-tank platoons of the line motorized companies; two in each company in the IMBS and six in the KAAB. The two brigades each had a headquarters company, four-line motorized battalions, a field artillery battalion, a support battalion, and air defense, signals, and engineers companies.
Riyadh Regional Headquarters controls:
- Imam Muhammad bin Saud Mechanized Brigade (IMBS), which controls four battalions (1st-4th) as well as the 1st SANG Artillery Battalion, and is based in Riyadh
- Prince Saad Abdulrahman Mechanized Brigade (PSAR), which controls four combined-armed battalions, and is based in Riyadh
- Turki Mechanized Brigade was reported to be in formation in 2002. As of 2006, it remains uncertain as to how developed this unit is
- King Khalid Light Infantry Brigade’s strength is unknown
- Ceremonial Cavalry Squadron
- King Khalid Military College
- Military Police battalion
- Irregular Fowj tribal forces
Eastern Regional Headquarter, which is located in Dammam, controls:
- King Abdulaziz Mechanized Brigade (KAAB), was in information in 2002, but its strength and organization is still unknown. Stanton, writing in 1996, identified this brigade as the King Abdul Aziz Brigade, stationed in Hofuf south of Dammam. It comprised the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th Combined Arms Battalions and the 2nd Artillery Battalion (155mm M‑198 towed howitzers.
- Prince Mohammad bin Abdulrahman al-Saud Light Infantry Brigade.
- Irregular fowj tribal forces.
Western Regional Headquarter, which is located in Jeddah, controls:
- One light infantry brigade based in Jeddah
- One light infantry brigade based in Medina
- Omar bin Kattab light infantry brigade based in Taif
Independent Battalions:
- In addition to the battalions under the control of the three regional headquarters, SANG has four independent light infantry battalions, which appear to be dedicated to protecting facilities and installations
Read more about this topic: Saudi Arabian National Guard
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